Traffic safety warning signal



Ap 1929. K. E. ERICKSON 1,707,432

lRAFFIC SAFETY WARNING SIGNAL Filed Sept. 27, 1926 glvvuento'a Patented Apr. 2, 1929.

UNITED STATES 1,107,432 PATENT OFFICE.

KNUTE E. ERIOKSON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

TRAFFIC SAFETY WARNING SIGNAL.

Application filed September 27, 1926. Serial No. 137,958.

My invention relates to cast metal stopsignals, to be anchored in place on the surface of streets and roadways, and provided with a reflector illuminated at night by the beams of light of a lamp carried by the approaching vehicle.

The object of my invent-ion is to provide an inexpensive durable warning signal of the type mentioned.

A further and particular object of my invention is to provide a warning signal so arranged as to protect, in an effective manner, the reflector which itcontains.

That side-of a warning signal exposedto the line of trafiic of vehicles must hold the reflector, and the latter is in consequence mostly exposed to injury by impact of the vehicle wheel, and requires special protection; and the particular purpose of my invention is to provide such protection.

I attain this object of my invention in a warning signal consisting of a body having one side substantiallyplaneand rearwardly inclined, and of suflicient height to tend to constitute an obstruction to a vehicle wheel approaching such side, the plane-faced side of the body being provided with a recessed portion formed with a cavity, one or more, adapted to hold a reflector, and the lateral and top surfaces of said plane-faced side projecting beyond said recessed portion, therebyto protect the reflector from injury by the impact of a vehicle wheel therewith.

Other details of.my invention are-heroin v after fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows a plan or top View of my warning signal;

Fig. 2 shows an elevation of the planefaced side of my warning signal in which the reflector is placed;

'Fig. 3 shows a perspective ofmy invention looking at its said plane-faced side;

Fig. 4 shows a section of my warning signal taken on the line 44 of Fig. 1; and illustrates the tire of a vehicle wheel striking the plane-faced side of my signal;

Fig, 5 showsthe plane-faced side of my warning signal modified so as to hold two reflectors; and

Fig. 6 shows a perspective view of my warning signal adapted to hold reflectors on each of its four sides.

Referring first to the construction of my warning signal as illustrated by Figs. 1 to 4., inclusive: The body a of my warning signal is a shell cast of substantial metal. It is made with a base whose perimeter represents substantially a half circle, as indicated by b in Fig. 1; and in vertical section the body is formed to represent a segment of'a spherical or oval geometric solid, as shown by 0 in Fig. 2. The base of the body is made of ample Width and breadth to insure stability in my warning signal when fixed in place; in other words insure thatit may be withstand impact from vehicles without being wrenched from its anchorage.

One side of the body is made with a planeface 023 which is rearwardly, or as may be said, inwardly inclined, as more clearly shown by Fig. 4; and said plane-faced side is formed with a recessed portion 6, which is provided with a cavity f, adapted to hold a reflector g. The arrangement of the surfaces of this plane-faced side 0? is such that the .top and lateral surface-will project beyond the recessed portion e, and thus constitute a substantial guard and protection for the lens g of the reflector g.

The said plane-faced side d is furthermore made of sufficient height so as to present more or less of an obstruction to the wheel of the vehicle approaching this side of my warning signal, as illustrated by Fig. 4; and thus even though the reflector g were removed, or broken, and the night were dark, the impact of the vehicle wheel with said plane-faced side of my warning signal would give the driver of the Vehicle effective warning of danger ahead. Said construction of the plane-faced side of my warning signal would also tend to keep vehicles from driving over said side of my warning signal. This precaution is desirable as an effective way for preventing unnecessary impact of the vehicle wheels, with m warning signal, and in that way saving an protecting the reflector contained in my warning signal. On the other hand, the wheel of a vehicle approaching my warning signal in themanner indicated in Fig. 4, by the dash-andidot line, would tend to slideoif laterally and thus would be prevented from inflicting any injury to my warning signal, or to the vehicle Wheel, because the rear part of my signal has only smooth surfaces, and no abrupt surfaces like the said plane-faced side of no signal.

My warning signs. is provided with recesses preferably at three points as at k, z' and j, each of which is provided with a hole is, to receive an anchor bolt. I have arranged the said anchoring points within the outer surfaces of my signal so as to avoid any sharp points on which avehicle wheel tire may be injured.

In Fig. 5 I have shown a modification in my warning signal. As here shown the body Z 1s made with two recesses m and n in its plane-faced side Z in each of which recesses is inserted a reflector as indicated by g and g.

In Fig 6, ll show a still further modifica- "tion of my warning signal. As here shown the body 0 is made with four plane-faced sides as indicated by p and g), each of which plane-faced sides are provided with recesses as and g in which recesses may be inserted re ector elements as indicated by r.

The warning signals shown in Figs. 5 and '6 are also provided with bored cavities in which to receive anchoring screws but, other means for anchor ng my warning signal in place may, of course, be employed,

I claim: c

A warning signal to be permanently secured to a surface, comprising a hollow body havin a face of the full Vertical dimensions of the ody and a semi-circular base of which the face forms a diameter, the upper surface of the body curving in all directions from the face and from the central Vertical line thereof, said face being rearwardly inclined relative to the Vertical and being recessed with the rear wall of the recess inclined to the vertical to a less degree than that of the face, said recess rear wall being formed with an opening, and a reflecting element held in said opening, all portions of said element being inwardly of the margins of the recess and being held by the inclined rear wall of the recess to reflect light rays reaching same at a downward incline from such light source.

KNUTE IE. ERIGKSON. 

